Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1887-06-03

mus q ,JuItu, JuulJc uuNdHN'u "ilu s''V
down on tao path as usual, in The full S.aIe Of
She slin.
"No, laas," he said," it is not wages They
are NOT cue yet"
"WHat Is it then"
NO, baas, it is this. The Beers have
declared war on the English government, and
shey have eaten up the rooibaatjos at Bron-
lier's Suruit, near Middclburg. Joubcrt shot
chem all there the day before yesterday
"Whatl' shouted John, letting his pipe fan
IN his establishment. stop, though that
must he a lie. You say near Middojburg, tie
DAY before yesterday, thai would be Dec. 20
When did you hear thisl"
"At daybreak, baas. y Basutu told me-
"Then there is an end Of il. the news
could not have got here in thirty light hours.
What do you mean by coming to me with
such talcl"
The Hottentos smiled at is quite true,
baas. BAD news flies like Bird" and he
picked himself up and slipped OH to his
work.
Notwithstanding the apparent impossibilty
Of the thing, John was considerably dis
Surbed, knowing the extraordinary speed
with which news docs travel among Kallirs;
more swiftly, indeed, than the swiltest
mounted messenger can bear it. Leaving
went in search of Silas Croft, and, finding
.bim in the garden, told HIM what Jantje had
said The old man did not know what to
make of the tale but, remembering Frank
Muller's threats, he shook his head.
"If there is any truth in it that villain Null
Ter has u hand in il, y he said. "I'll go to the
house and see Jantje. Give me your arm,
John"
He obcyed, and, on getting to the top of
5he steep path, perceived the stout figure of
old Hans Coetzee, who had been his host at
Che shooting party, ambling along on his fat
little pony.
"Ah," said old Silas, "here is the man who
will tell us if there is anything in it all'
Good Jay, ON Coetzee, good dayN he
shouted out in his stentorian tone. What
news do you bring with you"
The jolly looking Boer rolled awkwardly
of his pony before answering, and, throwing
The reins over its head, came TO meet them.
"Allemachter, ON Silas it is bad news
You have heard of the bymakaar Gmeeting)
at Paarde kraal. Frank Muller wanted me
20 go, but | would not, and now they have
declared war on the British government, and
sent a proclamation to l4anyon. There VIII
he fighting, ON Slas; the land will run with
blood and the poor rooibaatjes will be shot
down like buck"
"The poor Beers, you mean," growled
John, who did not like to hear her majestys
army talked of III terms of regretful pity.
ON Coetzee shook his head with the air of
one who knew all about il, and then turned
an attentive ear to Silas Crofts version of
Jantjes story.
"Allcmachterm groaned Coetzee, what did
tell you: The poor rooibaaties shot down
like buck, and the land running with blood.
And now that Frank Muller will draw me
into il, and | shall have to 90 and shoot the
poor rooiUaatjcs, and | can't miss try as
hard as | will, | can't MSS And when we
have shot them all | suppose Burgers will
come back. and he is kranksh mad. Yes,
yes; Lanyon is bad, but Burgers is worse,'
and the comfortable old gentleman groancd
aloud at the troubles in which he
foresaw he would be involved, and finally
cook his departure by a bride path over the
mountain, saying that, us things had turned
out, he would not like it to be known that he
had been calling on an Englishnan.
"John," said Silas Croft, suddenly, you
must go up to Pretoria and fetch jess. Mark
my words, the Beers will besicgc Pretoria,
and if we don't get her down at once sh9 will
be shut up there"
"Oh, no." cried Bessie, in sudden alarm, Il
cannot let John GO"
~ am sorry to hear you talk like that, Bes-
sic, when your sister is in danger" answered
her uncle. rather sternly; "but there, | dare
say that it is natural will go myself. Where
is Jantjet | shall want the Cape cart and the
four gray horses"
NO uncle dear, John shall go. | was not
thinking what | was saying. 1t seemed-a
little hard at first"
"Of course | must 60" said John. Don't
fret, dear; shall be back in five days. Those
four horses can go sixty miles day for that
time, and more. They are fat as butter and
there is lots of grass along the road if | can't
get forage for them. Besides, the cart will
be nearly empty, so | can carry a mud of
mealies and fifty bundles of forage with me.
will take that Zulu boy, Mouti (medicine),
with me. He does not know much about
horses, but he is a plucky fellow, and would
stick by one Mt pinch. One can't rely on
Jantic; he is always sneaking off somewhere,
and would be sure to get drunk just one
wanted him"
EYES, yes, John, that's right, that's right,
said the old man. ~ will go and see about
having the horses got up and the wheels
creased Where is the castor oil, Bessie
There is nothing like castor oil for these
patent axles You ought to be Off in an hour
You had better sleep at Lucks tonight; you
might get farther, but Lucli's is a good place
20 stop, and they will look after you wei
there, and You can be off by in the morning
and be AZ Heidelberg by 10 O'Clock tomorrow
night and in Pretoria by the next afternoon
and he hustled OFF to make the necessary
preparations.
"Oh, john" said Bessie, beginning to cry, q
don't like your going at all among those will
3oers. Nou are an English officer, and il
hey find you out they will shoot you. Hol
don't know what brutes some of them arr
When they think it safe to be So Oh, John
John, can't bear your going"
"Cheer up, my dear" said John, "and TO
Heaven's sake stop crying, for l can't bear it
J must go. Your uncle would never forgiv
zee if didn't, and, what is more, l SHOULD
never forgive myself. There is nobody els
70 80, and we can't leave jess to be shut NJ
there in Pretoria-for months perhaps y
for the risk, of course there is Il bit of risk
but must take it, am not afraid of risks